Women Leaders in STEM (COLL 163)
Spring 2014

This is a one hour discussion-oriented class on female leadership in science, technology, engineering and math. The course will develop students’ understanding of modern-day issues surrounding the role of women leaders in STEM disciplines, and prepare them, through study of theory, to respond to these issues in industry, policy, and academia. Seminar-style classes will focus on case studies and relevant scholarship, with an emphasis on crafting and sharing individual perspectives on the position of women in 21st century STEM fields. Multiple women leaders in these disciplines will be invited as guest speakers over the course of the semester. Open to male and female students of all majors. The class will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7-8 pm in RZR 205.

 You can find the most recent version of the course syllabus here.

Over the course of the semester, we will read Frances Conley’s memoir, Walking Out on the Boys. You will need to purchase this book. It is available from Amazon here.

Wednesday, January 15 2014
1. Class Introduction
2. Sheryl Sandberg, author of the recent and controversial bestseller Lean In, for TED
3. Bell Hooks’ criticism of Sheryl Sandberg and “faux feminism”

Walking Out on the Boys Chapter 1 PDF

Wednesday, January 22 2014
Are gender specific differences inherent?
A standard for success? Christine Lagarde, first female president of the IMF

Walking Out on the Boys Chapter two PDF

Wednesday, January 29 2014
WOOTB Chapter 2 Discussion
Prescriptive Stereotypes: Prentice and Carranza
Women’s Underrepresentation in Science: Ceci, Williams, Barnett

Wednesday, February 5 2014
Discussion Group One (Led by Kayla): The Female Leadership “Advantage:” How do gender-specific differences affect women’s position in STEM? Are these differences inherent (biological), learned, or socially attributed?
1. Gender advantages exist – Eagly, Carli (2003): The Female Leadership Advantage
vs.
2. Gender advantages do not exist – Vecchio (2002): Leadership and Gender Advantage

Wednesday, February 19 2014
Frances Conley resigns and leads Faculty Senate discussion of accounts of sexism: notes from chapter
Discussion of Women & Authority
For an interesting argument in support of hierarchical organization, see Jo Freeman’s Tyranny of Structurelessness
For a brilliant commentary on modern day sexism, see Douglas Hofstadter’s Person Paper on Purity in Language  (from Metamagical Themas)

Wednesday, February 26 2014
Conley’s OpEd piece
Laura Bates: The Everyday Sexism Project